Tips for hiring an app development company
Photo by Olaf Val on Unsplash
Are you looking to hire a mobile app developer? Be it that you founded your startup, or that you are working as the project manager of a company, hiring app developers can be a challenging task.
It depends foremost on the following: Do you need a simple app, or something more complex? Is the company new, or is it looking to expand its business? The more specific you are, the more precise you can estimate the cost and plan the budget for this project.
It is also very important to remain within the planned timeframe, so look for a company that can meet your deadlines.
Which are the decisive factors for hiring a mobile app development company?
Their service span & their location
The first thing to consider is always the location of the company. Hiring a local provider will make communication easier and guarantee your app responds to the needs of the market. Let’s say, for example, that you are a dev company yourself and you want to outsource React development to someone else. The location is very important so that you don’t pinball emails from you to the company you hired.
Next, you will need to check the team and confirm you are working with skillful and experienced professionals. This way, you don’t have to worry about miscommunication or missed deadlines.
Shortlist the companies you could hire, and schedule meetings with their mobile app teams to discuss the projects. They will inform you of their exact services and prices, and you can get an overall feeling about their team and their performance. Compare the offers and choose the company that makes the best offer against the most reasonable pricing.
The communication
Nowadays, it is very probable that there are otherwise located or even overseas companies that will bid for the job. This means that a communication gap will be there by default, as you can’t closely follow the progress of the project. It will also be quite challenging to share feedback or make it clear what you want or don’t like. The developers working live on your project may not even speak your language.
That being said, why do so many entrepreneurs opt for a remote workforce? The answer is simple – to cut the costs. If this is your plan as well, work out ways to improve communication.
Keep in mind, though, that the estimated price they offer may be lower than the actual figures, so don’t turn it into a decisive factor. Instead, choose a company that is cost-efficient and doesn’t compromise on quality. Some online research may help with that.
The cultural aspect
Outsourcing is a common practice of many US and EU companies, especially when it comes to mobile app development. They shift their offers towards India, China, or Eastern Europe. Many of them fail to address the geographical and cultural differences this physical distance creates.
The service is dependent on the location, whether we want this or not. You need to consider the time difference, other national holidays, religious preferences, and much more. Plus, you may need to adjust your communication strategy, as each region has its own business culture.
The size of the team
Knowing the size of the team will help you come up with realistic deadlines. If it is a small company, you may need to count on more delays. As a rule, the more demanding the task is the larger the team should be so that you get everything done in time.
It is not all about size, though. Decisive is also the skills and experience of the workflow, as larger teams also have multiple clients at a time. They also tend to be better listeners, provide more flexibility, and meet even the most specific among your requirements. You will be involved in all discussions, including the ones on choosing team leaders, which is something to appreciate.
The experience of the team
Mobile app developers and established firms in Central and Eastern Europe are the current leaders in this market in terms of quality, as demand grows day by day. You may choose a small or a large team, you may outsource or not, but what should be most decisive for you is the experience of the team. What you need as a developer who’s already done what you expect them to do.
The more experience they have, the better. Ideally, look for a team that specializes in both mobile and web design. Your first impression should come from their website and customer ratings.
Your expectations & communication skills
We may not all be tech-savvy or informed developers. Yet. we can agree on one thing: there are many ways to code something, and the best developers are the ones able to come up with even more ways.
As a non-programmer, you may sometimes miss this. Or even worse – you may expect a programmer to be able to do it all.
This is also why developers usually work in teams. It lets them be flexible and respond to creative requirements. At the same time, this is a headache for many clients. A team involves multiple people with multiple ideas and communication styles, and that is always a peril to communication.
Therefore, we always recommend hiring a software development company that specializes in the field you need. For example, a team for JavaScript development. The command will be unified, and the right team will be assigned so that you are as little involved as possible.
The best team will then be the team that knows exactly what technology to employ to give you the functionalities you need. Define the features, layout, and specifics, and you will only search for companies that specialize in those.
As you see, it all comes down to how prepared your project is. Try to define a strategy and answer all critical questions in advance. The developers need to know what the app is for, who are the target users, who it helps, and more. Make a list of the features, technical requirements, and navigation/UX expectations. The developers will appreciate this.
What should you ask?
Negotiations with a prospective app developer can be tricky. There will be tech terms and buzz words you don’t understand, so prepare yourself in advance.
The more complex the app, the longer these discussions will take. You need to discuss the functionalities, applied technology, schedule, process, and foremost costs. Your developer should guide you through the process without any trouble and explain things in a way that you understand.
Final thoughts
Mobile apps are as good as compulsory for a modern business. They speak in favor of your reputation and give users a great first impression of who you are and what you do. Therefore, don’t cut on the costs and don’t compromise on quality – your audience will appreciate this.
